--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But America was founded on the principle…" description: "\"But America was founded on the principle that every person has God-given rights. That power belongs to the people. That government exists to protect ou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79b/marco-rubio-355_america_but-america-was-founded-on-the-principle_1579888.png" --- # But America was founded on the principle that every person… ![“But America was founded on the principle that every person has God-given rights. That power belongs to the people. That government exists to protect our rights and serve our interests.That we shouldn't be trapped in the circumstances of our birth. That we should be free to go as far as our talents…” quote by Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79b/marco-rubio-355_america_but-america-was-founded-on-the-principle_1579888.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79b/marco-rubio-355_america_but-america-was-founded-on-the-principle_1579888.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79b/marco-rubio-355_america_but-america-was-founded-on-the-principle_1579888.png) > “But America was founded on the principle that every person has God-given rights. That power belongs to the people. That government exists to protect our rights and serve our interests.That we shouldn't be trapped in the circumstances of our birth. That we should be free to go as far as our talents and work can take us.” [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote asserts that America’s founding principle is that all individuals possess inherent rights granted by God, and that government’s role is to safeguard those rights and enable personal freedom and advancement. **In simple terms:** America is built on God‑given rights and government should protect them. Key Takeaway Protect rights, empower individuals. Themes freedom rights government equality opportunity Mood patriotic optimistic assertive Type political inspirational When to use this quote - political discourse - civil rights activism - education policy - immigration reform - economic mobility Key Concepts natural rights social contract meritocracy Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure rights translate into real opportunities? - What policies best remove birth‑circumstance constraints? A Different Perspective The claim may overlook systemic barriers that limit true equality despite formal rights. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Birth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birth/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) ## Related quotes > [Americans chose a limited government that exists to protect our rights, not to grant them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/americans-chose-a-limited-government-that-exists-to-protect-our/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [Our government does not exist to decide the rights, nor to grant them. Our government exists to protect them. And that is why we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/our-government-does-not-exist-to-decide-the-rights-nor-to-grant-them/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [Women have been given so many rights in BJP-ruled states.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirron-kher/women-have-been-given-so-many-rights-in-bjp-ruled-states/) [Kirron Kher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirron-kher/) > [Let the Fourth of July always be a reminder that here in this land, for the first time, it was decided that man is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/let-the-fourth-of-july-always-be-a-reminder-that-here-in-this-land/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Wherever there is a human being, I see God-given rights inherent in that being, whatever may be the sex or complexion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lloyd-garrison/wherever-there-is-a-human-being-i-see-god-given-rights-inherent-in/) [William Lloyd Garrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lloyd-garrison/) > [People were floored when they saw that the underwear bomber, after less than 50 minutes of interrogation, was given the rights, privileges, and immunities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-bachmann/people-were-floored-when-they-saw-that-the-underwear-bomber-after/) [Michele Bachmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-bachmann/) > [Minorities have never been given their rights. They have always had to wage a political and legal battle to win them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-allred/minorities-have-never-been-given-their-rights-they-have-always-had-to/) [Gloria Allred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-allred/) > [And they can appreciate, through personal experience, that the really decisive battleground of American freedom is in the hearts and minds of our own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/and-they-can-appreciate-through-personal-experience-that-the-really-2/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [We have waited for more than three hundred and forty years for our constitutional and God-given rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-have-waited-for-more-than-three-hundred-and-forty-years-for-our/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“When people learn to preserve the richness of the land that God has given them and the rights to enjoy the fruits of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/when-people-learn-to-preserve-the-richness-of-the-land-that-god-has/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [We declare our right on this earth...to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/we-declare-our-right-on-this-earth-to-be-a-human-being-to-be/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Just as the white man and every other person on this earth has God-given rights, natural rights, civil rights, any kind of rights that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/just-as-the-white-man-and-every-other-person-on-this-earth-has-god/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [And they can appreciate, through personal experience, that the really decisive battleground of American freedom is in the hearts and minds of our own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/and-they-can-appreciate-through-personal-experience-that-the-really/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [All too frequently, the knee jerk reaction to tragedies by the media and chattering class is to move to restrict our rights... Our founding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-brat/all-too-frequently-the-knee-jerk-reaction-to-tragedies-by-the-media/) [Dave Brat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-brat/) > [The Declaration of Independence was to set forth the moral justification of a rebellion against a long-recognized political tradition - the divine right of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/the-declaration-of-independence-was-to-set-forth-the-moral-2/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) ## More by Marco Rubio > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [However, however, if the goal is to abandon America's free enterprise economy, if the goal is to convert America into a submissive member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/however-however-if-the-goal-is-to-abandon-america-s-free-enterprise/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [The president we have today is a typical Washington politician that's prone to hyperbole and decisiveness and false outrage. And I think it's very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/the-president-we-have-today-is-a-typical-washington-politician-that-s/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [Donald Trump is not going to be the nominee, because we are not going to allow - people will wake up and we're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/donald-trump-is-not-going-to-be-the-nominee-because-we-are-not-going/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [My first job paid well for a young attorney. I was making over $50,000, which was more than either of my parents had ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/my-first-job-paid-well-for-a-young-attorney-i-was-making-over-50-000/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [My dad was a bartender. My mom was a cashier, a maid and a stock clerk at K-Mart. They never made it big. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/my-dad-was-a-bartender-my-mom-was-a-cashier-a-maid-and-a-stock-clerk/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [Now, look, it's true, Americans do want leaders that will come to Washington, D.C. and work together to get things done, but that comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/now-look-it-s-true-americans-do-want-leaders-that-will-come-to/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [I have been an underdog my whole life, both in life and in politics. We're going to do well. We're going to pick up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/i-have-been-an-underdog-my-whole-life-both-in-life-and-in-politics-we/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [Certainly being governor is an important job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/certainly-being-governor-is-an-important-job/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [The conservative movement is about government playing its important yet limited role, and about not falling into the trap of believing that every problem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/the-conservative-movement-is-about-government-playing-its-important/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [The greatest thing that we can do for the world is be America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/the-greatest-thing-that-we-can-do-for-the-world-is-be-america/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [Our people want jobs. They don't want a safety net as a way of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/our-people-want-jobs-they-don-t-want-a-safety-net-as-a-way-of-life/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [I believe that every single human being is entitled to the protection of our laws, whether they can vote or not. Whether they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/i-believe-that-every-single-human-being-is-entitled-to-the-protection/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [I don't measure success by how many buildings have my name on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/i-don-t-measure-success-by-how-many-buildings-have-my-name-on-it/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [Any time you can degrade or take away the top leadership of an organization, it's a positive step forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/any-time-you-can-degrade-or-take-away-the-top-leadership-of-an/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) [Explore all 649 Marco Rubio quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But America was founded on the principle that every person has God-given rights. That power belongs to the people. That government exists to protect our rights and serve our interests.That we shouldn't be trapped in the circumstances of our birth. 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